University of Virginia Library

Wahoos Set For ACC Opener

By TOM BELL

The Word 'Crucial' Has Been Employed Often In Reference To The Cavaliers' Game With Duke Here Tomorrow

After Two Unimpressive Losses The Pressure Will Be On Wahoo QB Harrison Davis (Above) Against Tough Secondary

The winless Wahoos face a
crucial test in their campaign
to be "competitive" tomorrow
when the undefeated and
highly-touted Duke Blue Devils
come to town for the annual
Homecoming game in Scott
Stadium.

The game will be the first
conference contest for both
teams after two weeks of
play which have seen the Blue
Devils take two surprising upset
wins, and the Cavaliers suffer two
embarrassing defeats.

Cavalier fans received a bit more
sad news Wednesday when
offensive coordinator Sil
Cornachione reported that the
Wahoos will be without the services
of starting running backs Jim Lacey
and Gary Helman, who continue to
be hampered by two-week old
injuries. Helman has a shoulder
injury which has kept him out of all
but the first half of the season
opener against Navy, and Lacey has
an injured hamstring which has
kept him out of all action so far.

Other injuries which plagued the
Cavaliers in last week's humiliating
56-0 loss to Michigan should be
healed. These were to defensive
tackle and co-captain Andy
Selfridge, offensive lineman Steve
Shawley, and wide receiver Dave
Sullivan.

Bob Bressan, a starter at
defensive tackle, will also be
missing. He was injured in the Dude
game two years ago and was
therefore given an extra year of
eligibility except for the conference
games in which he participated that
year.

The Cavaliers go into the game
with a ten-game losing streak in the
ACC, dating back to 1969 when
they topped the Blue Devils 10-0
before a Homecoming crowd at
Scott Stadium. They were 0-6 in
the conference last year.

The losing streak, however, was
in the days of George Blackburn,
and those days are gone. The word
around Scott Stadium this year is
that the Cavaliers are entering a
new era under Don Lawrence
during which they will be
"competitive" in the ACC.
Tomorrow will be their first
opportunity to achieve that goal
after miserable failures in the
season's first two weeks.

In Duke the Wahoos will face a
formidable opponent. For Duke is
also (to use an overworked phrase)
entering a new era, under Coach
Mike McGee, and they have been
more than competitive in their
early games, upsetting Florida and
South Carolina, and moving into
the twentieth position in this
week's Associated Press poll. Mr
McGee was named Coach of the
Week in the country last week by
the United Press International.

The Devils are, according to
Cavalier scout Bob Rannigan, an
"aggressive, strong team." Their
main offensive strength is the line,
anchored by 6-3, 254-pound tackle
Willie Clayton. They like to run,
having passed only seven times in
two games.

The major offensive fireworks
are provided by fullback Steve
Jones who has carried the ball for
an average of 164.5 yards per game.
He has been the ball-carrier 77
times so far, including 47 carries
against South Carolina when Duke
had only 56 offensive plays.

The loss of Helman and Lacey is
a big one for the Cavaliers, but
there is more depth at running back
than at any other position, as Kent
Merritt leads the Cavaliers with 129
yards in 30 carries, and Greg
Dickerhoof is second with 74 yards
in 20 carries, including 48 last week
against Michigan.

As a result of last week's
disaster, the Cavaliers are last in
both offense and defense in the
conference.

A crowd of about 19,000 is
expected for tomorrow's
Homecoming game.

The game will be the 23rd
meeting between the two teams.
The Blue Devils have won 14 and
lost eight. They won last year in
Durham, 17-7.

All in all, the game shapes up as
a crucial one for the Cavaliers and
the Lawrence program. Many
students will be getting their first
look at the Wahoos and expecting
them to be "competitive" against a
contender for the conference title.